Montana State University Extension and the Montana Pork Producers Council will host a conference for small pork producers on Saturday, April 29, at Montana Expo-Park’s Family Living Center in Great Falls. The conference, which will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., is an opportunity for pork producers, 4-H members, FFA members and others to learn about swine genetics, pork production, herd

Helping Montanans have a better shot at camping in state parks is a popular idea. House Bill 440, which would limit the number of reserved campsites at 80 percent in order to allow more walkups, passed unanimously in committee, and then it passed unanimously in the House. Rep. Steve Gunderson, RLibby, had said the bill was aimed at creating more availability for Montanans, who sometimes want

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, Montana’s lone statewide elected Democrat, announced Wednesday, Feb. 22, that he would seek re-election to a fourth term in 2024. “I am running for re-election so I can keep fighting for Montanans and demand that Washington stand up for our veterans and lower costs,” Tester said in a statement from his campaign. “Montanans need a fighter holding Washington accountable,

Recent and current cold temperatures across the state have resulted in higher- than-expected energy bills for many Montana residents. Increased utility company operating expenses for some utilities, including local property tax increases which went into effect Jan. 1, may have also contributed to a recent surge in the prices customers are seeing on their bills. To reduce energy costs, the

The Valley County Spelling Bee was delayed, due to severe cold and blowing snow until Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m. at Lustre Christian High School. Five Lustre Grade school contestants, Coleman Hilkemann, Justin Schiller, Sidney Klatt, Cam Reddig and Aubrey Klatt, competed. Results were not available as of presstime. The 22 Lustre Christian High School dorm students and dorm parents were in dress

In his continued push to support Montana cattle producers and combat anti-competitive practices in the meat processing industry, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., reintroduced his Meat Packing Special Investigator Act to fight consolidation and enforce the nation’s anti-trust laws. The bill is co-led by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). “Folks in Washington don’t understand

Frazer’s boys’ basketball team lost a tough 57-53 contest against North Country on Saturday, Feb. 11. North Country led 21-10 at the end of the first quarter and by a 27-26 half-time margin. The Mavericks held a 41-32 lead after the third quarter. The Bearcubs accounted for 21 points in the final period. In the girls’ game, North Country won by an 89-17 score. North Country jumped

Gov. Greg Gianforte criticized the Biden administration for issuing a rule which undermines the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Montana gunowners. The Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives recently revised criteria for firearms with stabilizing braces, subjecting nearly all firearms with attached stabilizing braces to taxation and registration